WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- As it seeks to sell fighter jets and other military aircraft to South Korea, Boeing Co. stepped up public relations efforts Thursday to highlight its partnerships with the country's state defense firm.
The U.S. company announced it has received 10 fuselages for new AH-64 Apache helicopters from Korea Aerospace Industries.
KAI has been a "key part of our ongoing effort to keep the Apache relevant and ahead of the competition," Bill Elder, Boeing's regional manager for relevant programs, said in a press release.
The delivery of the fuselages, designed specially for the AH-64D Apache Block III multi-role attack helicopter, is a "milestone" that paves the way for the production of the first Apache Block III aircraft with new fuselages next year, Boeing said.
Boeing first developed the AH-64D Block I in 1997, followed by the Block II in 2003.
The U.S. Army plans to acquire 690 Apache Block III aircraft, it added.
"KAI began producing fuselages for the world's most advanced combat helicopter nearly a decade ago at its facility in Sacheon," said Pat Gaines, president of Boeing Korea. "Today more than 1,000 AH-64D Apaches are in service, in production or under contract with 12 customers worldwide. This is just one example of the mutual benefits created by expanding the global reach of opportunities available to Korean industry."
Seoul plans to purchase 36 attack helicopters, mainly aimed at North Korea's tanks, later this year.
For the sale, Boeing's AH-64D Block III Apache is competing with the Bell AH-1Z Viper and the Turkish Aerospace Industry's T-129B.
Separately, Boeing is also hoping for a deal with South Korea on the sale of F-15 Silent Eagle fighter jets amid stiff competition with Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II and the European Eurofighter Typhoon.